Liverpool: The Vital LFC News Roundup

Your easy to digest news update on all things LFC. Snippets this week include the Hillsborough charity single and the futures of Stewart Downing and Brad Jones...

Hillsborough charity single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' is physically released today (Monday 17th December). The song, aiming for a Christmas No.1, features a selection of music's biggest artists including Melanie C, Rebecca Ferguson, Gerry Marsden, Sir Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams. Buy the track now and raise money for the ongoing fight for justice on behalf of the 96 supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough in 1989. Click here for more information and to purchase the single.

Following the first-team's disappointing 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday (15th November), defender Glen Johnson has bemoaned the side's lack of penalty awards this season. Speaking after the game, Johnson said: "We are probably the only team in the world that hasn't had a penalty this season. We have had some clear-cut penalties but for whatever reason they are not being given. There was the one [against Villa] on Daniel Agger and the one where I've headed it and the guy has basically caught it."

Liverpool squad player Stewart Downing has revealed he has been told he can leave the club despite starting five of the last six games. Speaking in Saturday's match day programme, the 28-year-old said: "The manager has said I can leave if I want to, but then I've come back into the team, it's a strange situation... At the minute I'm trying to play as many games as possible. If that doesn't happen I'm at an age where I can't be sat around. I need to play and the manager understands that."

Reserve goalkeeper Brad Jones has signed a new long-term contract at Anfield. The 30-year-old Australian has made 14 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Middlesbrough in 2010. 10 of them have been this season with first choice shot stopper Pepe Reina injured for a number of weeks.

Fresh from winning the Vital Liverpool Player Of The Month award for November, Spaniard Jose Enrique has scooped the official Standard Chartered Player of the Month prize too. The left-back collected 45 per cent of the vote in a poll held on Liverpoolfc.com to see off competition from Luis Suarez (33 per cent) and Daniel Agger (7 per cent).

Reds Top scorer Luis Suarez has been ranked in the top 10 best players in the world by Match of the Day magazine. The Uruguayan striker was at number 9 in the list of 100 currently active players. Barcelona's Lionel Messi topped the list ahead of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo with Radamel Falcao in third.

Liverpool U18s had to settle for being runners-up in the inaugural NexLions tournament in Singapore on Sunday (16th December) after losing 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon. The team, who had beaten the hosts 1-0 on Friday to qualify for the final, went down to two second half goals; one seconds after the restart and the other in the final minute. LFC U18s team: Fulton, McLaughlin, Jones, Heaton, Lussey, Morgan, Dunn, Pelosi, Ibe, Baio, Maguire. Subs: Mersin, Smith, Yesil, Petersson.

The Reds youngsters still have the chance of lifting a trophy this season however and will face either Bradford City or Histon in the next round of the FA Youth Cup. The two sides meet on Thursday (20th December) for the chance to meet the young Reds in January. Steve Cooper's side secured their progress courtesy of a 5-0 thrashing of Swindon Town earlier this month.

Liverpool Ladies have made yet another new signing with Sweden international Louise Fors arriving at the club from Australian side Western Sydney Wanderers. The 23-year-old midfielder has 24 full international caps and in addition to playing football in her native Sweden has also had a spell in Spain.

Liverpool FC have been the most talked about football club on Twitter in the UK this year, it has been announced. In broader sporting terms only the #Paralympics garnered more tweets on these shores than #LFC during 2012.

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